Rydal Mount

Rydal Mount & Gardens

Rydal Mount and Gardens located midway between Ambleside and Grasmere was the historic home of William Wordsworth and his family from 1813 until Wordsworth's death in 1850. This later period of Wordsworth's life spent here was one of relative economic prosperity when Wordsworth was at the height of his fame and a Poet Laureate for a period by special request of Queen Victoria.

Despite the death of two of his children, Catherine and Thomas, in 1812 the move to Rydal the following year was to prove the happy family home the Wordsworths had been searching for and a tour of the house and gardens offers a fascinating insight into the family's life. The extensive landscape gardens were designed by Wordsworth himself and remain much as he left them. Rydal has spectacular views across to Rydal Water and Lake Windermere. In his remaining years William Wordsworth perfected much of his earlier poetry here including one of his most famous poems, 'Daffodils'.

A tearoom and souvenir shop are both on-site and visitors can take a walk around the adjacent Dora's Field which the poet named after his daughter and famously planted with daffodils. Delightful walks also feature around Rydal Hall just across the lane. The popular Old School Room Tea Shop is here and you can gain access to pretty Rydal Falls through Rydal Hall's wooded garden.

Tours

Wordsworth rented Rydal Mount from Lady Diana Le Fleming of nearby Rydal Hall and at the time of his move here in 1813 he was at the height of his fame, albeit with his best work behind him written mostly at nearby Dove Cottage in Grasmere. Guided tours of Rydal Mount House are by timed ticket, taking you around each of the Wordsworth family rooms which feature original flagged floors and oak beams. The attic study was Wordsworth's during his time as Poet Laureate by special request of Queen Victoria and glass cases around the property display many of the Wordsworth family's personal possessions including Wordsworth's pen. Family portraits and original furniture feature around the house. The surrounding gardens designed by Wordsworth cover four acres.